After three successive narrow defeats Guiseley Academy hit back in fine style with back to back victories in games on Wednesday and Friday of this week that took them three points closer to league leaders Solihull Moors, writes Rachel O’Connor.
Guiseley have had to re-shape their side due to the continued unavailability of their two leading scorers Josh Stones and Jakub Hebda, who have been on duty with the English Schools Under-18s side. The pair have netted 32 goals between them for the Academy this season with Stones bagging 21.
Into their shoes have stepped Brad Wood and Alex Mather with Wood netting four goals in four starts for the team and Mather three in recent games. In Friday’s 3-1 win over Blyth Spartans Mather showed his all round talents when he went in goal for the last 30 minutes of the game after Hagie Damba was injured whilst saving a penalty.
The first victory, 3-0 away to Notts County on Wednesday, saw the young Lions get back on track with two goals from Brad Wood and one from Fole Nkem.
Just two days later Guiseley took on Blyth Spartans in a home game played at Trinity and All Saints University, Horsforth. This game saw Guiseley triumph 3-1 with goals from strikers Alex Mather and Brad Wood and defender Jayden John.
As well as missing Stones and Hebda for this game Guiseley were also missing key defender Ellis Farrar. Undaunted Dave Currie’s boys made it a double over the lads from the north east and gained a valuable three points that took them to just three points behind Solihull Moors with the sides both now having played 15 games.
Guiseley still have two games remaining against Moors as they battle for the title in the National League Under-19 Alliance North Division with the Guiseley lads having a better goal difference with 26 compared to the Moors 23.
However, both sides will have an eye on the challenge being made by AFC Fylde who lie in third place, three points behind Guiseley but with two games in hand.
Guiseley: Hagie Damba (Sam Meeson 60 minutes with Mather going in goal); Oliver Reape, Jayden John, Ricardo Grey, Harrison Leigh, Sam Appleyard, Folefac Nkem, Haroon Salah, Brad Wood, Alex Mather, Harry Glover. Sub unused: Josh Sorley.
